VRE, MARC partner on cross-system fares

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration's MARC rail service announced an agreement designed to make it easier for commuter-rail riders to transfer between the two passenger-rail systems.

Passengers with a weekly, monthly, or 10-trip ticket purchased on the MARC Train or VRE system to Union Station in Washington, D.C., can now use that ticket to transfer to the other system (MARC to VRE or VRE to MARC) to continue their trip at no additional cost.

“This agreement effectively expands the geographic footprint of commuter-rail service in the region and provides passengers with an affordable two-seat ride across state lines,” said VRE CEO Rich Dalton in a press release. “It lays the groundwork for future efforts to better align MARC and VRE operations, which is consistent with our long-range plan to grow VRE from a peak-period, commuter-focused rail service to an all-day, bi-directional transit system that can better meet the transportation needs of a growing region.”

MARC and VRE riders will have access to a wide range of employment centers, health-care facilities, educational institutions and tourism and cultural options throughout the region according to the release.